July 25, 2016        Issue #81



















When's the last time 
you checked out the 
Presbytery website?  www.wvpresbytery.org 
General
Presbyter
Sightings!

Catch the General Presbyter at the following churches and events:
  • General Assembly!  Watch your email for daily updates!
Presbytery Staff

Ed Thompson
General Presbyter
Maureen Wright
Stated Clerk

Rocky Poole
Financial Administration/Treasurer

Barbara Chalfant
Associate Presbyter for Mission

Susan Sharp Campbell
Associate for Educational Ministry

Nellie Howard
Resource Center Director

Mark Miller
Bluestone Camp Director

Mark Parsons-Justice
Office Administrator/Communications




Prayer List For Churches

Week 32 - August 7 
Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, Hurricane 
Fayetteville Presbyterian Church 

Church: Gitumbi 
Pronun: GAY-TOE'bay 
Parish: Rware 
Spoken: Roh-ARE'ray 

Week 33 - August 14 
Harman Presbyterian Church 
Kesler Memorial Presbyterian Church, Hico McKinnon Presbyterian Church, Charleston

Church: King'ong'o 
Pronun: Kay-nAWE"nAWE" 
Parish: Rware 
Spoken: Roh-ARE'ray

Week 34 - August 21 
First Presbyterian Church, Morgantown First Presbyterian Church, Parkersburg Red Sulphur Springs Presbyterian Church, Ballard

Church: Muringato 
Pronun: Moh-ree-GAH'toe 
Parish: Rware 
Spoken: Roh-ARE'ray

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by Ed Thompson, General Presbyter
On my way from vacation earlier this week I started to think about the Belhar Confession. (Yes, it is a long drive. No, I have not gone over the edge - at least not yet.) The impetus for my thoughts came from watching TV while eating breakfast at the hotel that morning. They had on some news channel that was recapping last week's Republican National Convention and previewing this week's Democratic National Convention.  The anchors and the reporters were bad enough. The people they chose to interview were worse.  They were all angry about something, practically shouting at the camera, predicting dire results if their party did not win the election.  It was not good for my digestion or my mood.
               
Once I got in the car and had some time to reflect on that sordid piece of reporting, that's when the Belhar Confession came to mind...

Flood Response:
What to do to help now....floodres

Presbytery Staff Job Postingjob
Position:  Associate Presbyter for Congregational Support  
Position Description: The Associate for Congregational Support shall provide professional staff support to presbytery committees and congregations. In particular this Associate is the contact person for churches in transition and will work closely with the Ministry Committee to ensure the need is met. He/she will work with small churches to inspire hope, generate vision, and challenge them to consider new models for ministry.
The Administration Committee has approved the request of Mark Parsons-Justice to be placed on a leave of absence from July 1 - October 31. Mark is dealing with some medical concerns. If you would like to send him a note, you can reach him at 705 Beech St., South Charleston, WV 25309.

Please keep Dana Sutton in your prayers as she mourns the death of  her father.  Mr. Sutton had pneumonia recently and was experiencing various other health problems and simply died in his wheelchair after dinner.  He made it to Mrs. Sutton's memorial which was held just a week or so ago. That was a goal for him.  No arrangements are being made yet. 

Please keep Nellie Howard, Resource Center Director and Teaching Elder, Denny Dodson, pastor of the Belle Church as they mourn the loss of their mother, Mary "Polly" Dodson, Ruling Elder and charter member of Village Chapel Presbyterian Church.  The service will be Sunday, July 31 at 2:00 at Village Chapel Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers donations may be given to Village Chapel or an organization of your choice.
New Resources!resources
The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation recently added two new resources to the Glory to God hymnal collection - Glory to God: A Companion and Glory to God- Hymns and Songs for Children and Families: Singing Faith All Day Long.  Read more here...
Adult Studies Adult
by Nellie Howard, Resource Center Director

 
 It will soon be time to decide what your adult classes will study this fall.  There are plenty of choices from the series,  Being Reformed: Faith Seeking Understanding.  This series recognizes that as Presbyterians we understand that God calls us to explore ways our Christian faith can be more fully known and expressed.  These studies us what it means to be Presbyterian Christians in the world today.  Let's look at a few selections from the study which are available from your Resource Center.   Click here for more...
Bluestone Camp & Retreat Mid-Summer Updatecamp       
Summer Camp 2016 proved to be another great program experience for all who participated.  Dedicated staff and volunteers, energetic campers, the beauty of our natural setting, and the presence of the Holy Spirit combined to make our rendition of the summer camp experience memorable and meaningful for everyone involved. 
Once again our presbytery churches were generous...   Continued here
Help Campus Ministry!campus  
Help needed!  The Presbyterian Campus Ministry at WVU is an Ukirk ministry charged with reaching, teaching, and loving college students so they may be lifelong followers of Jesus Christ.  We meet weekly during the school year (Wednesdays, 7 pm, at Campus Ministry Center, downtown).  We need YOUR 
help identifying students who will be attending WVU in the fall (new, returning, transfer, etc).  Here are      ways you can help.  Click Here...
Preserve and Conserve! preserve 
Workshops available on Energy Efficiency, Water Resources, And Community Health
 
The Presbytery's Stewardship of Creation Ministry Team (SCMT) is continuing to provide workshops around the Presbytery on the importance to the faith community of preserving and conserving resources, especially water and energy.  They are providing these workshops free of charge and will tailor the event to the ages and size of the gathering. 
 
For more information and a Flyer click here...

Child Protection Policy Workshop! child

Saturday, September 10
10 am - 4 pm
Village Chapel 
Presbyterian Church
 
  • Has your session been struggling to adopt a Child Protection Policy as now required by our Constitution?
  • Are there questions about why members who have taught Sunday School for 30 years now need background check?
  • Do your session have a child protection policy but it might be time for a review of it?
  • Are some asking, "why do we need such a policy, abuse couldn't possible happen in our church?
  • What would you do if a convicted child molester came to worship?
 
Dr. Rebecca Davis, Associate Professor of Religion at Presbyterian College, and a life-long advocate for children, will be leading participants in exploring these and other issues related to a child protection policy in our congregations. This will be an opportunity to hear more about some of the issues that have led to the inclusion of the child protection policy in our Form of Government and what needs to be in such a policy.
 
For more information, click here. If you have questions, please contact Susan Sharp Campbell, susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com or 304 -645- 456

PWV Mission Trip CHANGEchange
Many of us had a busy schedule in the month of August and our sign-ups for the mission trip were low, we have decided to redirect our energies to offer a Flood recovery week through WVMAW in Greenbrier County October 16-20.  All the costs will be the same as before, $300.00 for the week or $75.00 a day.  Please mark this on your calendar and prayerfully consider if you are able to serve. 
 
WVMAW is a long term recovery agency, working in partnership with the Presbytery of WV.  This means that after the first responders go home, we will be there working with families in need for years to come.  WVMAW is booking long term recovery teams now, and would like to give our people in WV the opportunity to respond to their own neighbors.  Please let us know interest by August 1.
 

computer_sky.jpg
The Relations Committee is seeking techies to assist local churches with website and technology needs on a volunteer, as-needed basis. Persons would be called on by churches if they need help setting up a webpage or if they have communications technology questions.  The committee particularly need persons who would be available to churches in the Parkersburg, Charleston, Lewisburg, and Morgantown areas.  For more information, please contact Patrick Ryan, Relations Committee ComTech Teach chair, at patseanryan@gmail.com.  
Editor's Note:
In order to keep the PWV Newsletter fresh, articles sent for publication will generally run for two consecutive issues.  If you wish for a piece to continue to run, please resubmit. We encourage you to reword, add a photo (or different photo), or change the piece in some way so that the news stays fresh and interesting. 
Presbytery of West Virginia, 520 Second Avenue, South Charleston, WV 25303
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